CVE-2018-14294 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.1.5096. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the processing of FileAttachment annotations. By manipulating a document's elements an attacker can cause a pointer to be reused after it has been freed. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-6211.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition affecting Foxit Reader version 9.0.1.5096 that enables remote code execution through crafted malicious documents. The flaw resides in the FileAttachment annotation processing mechanism within the PDF rendering engine, where improper memory management allows for use-after-free conditions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes maliciously constructed PDF files containing crafted FileAttachment annotations that manipulate document elements in a manner designed to trigger memory corruption. The security risk stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input data during PDF document parsing, particularly when handling complex annotation structures that involve file attachment functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious PDF document containing specially constructed FileAttachment annotations that cause the application to reuse a pointer after it has been freed during normal memory deallocation processes. This use-after-free condition creates a predictable memory layout that allows attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or inject executable code within the application's memory space. The vulnerability operates under the CWE-416 category of use-after-free conditions, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as a primary attack vector in numerous security breaches. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a PDF document that triggers the vulnerable code path, causing the application to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations that rely on Foxit Reader for document processing, as it allows remote attackers to execute malicious code without requiring administrative privileges. The requirement for user interaction through visiting a malicious webpage or opening a malicious file aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and demonstrates the social engineering component inherent in many successful attacks. The vulnerability affects a wide range of users who may inadvertently encounter malicious PDF documents through email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The attack surface is particularly broad given that PDF documents are commonly used in business environments for sharing contracts, invoices, and other important documents, making this a high-value target for threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of Foxit Reader that contains patches for this vulnerability, as well as deploying web application firewalls and email security solutions that can detect and block malicious PDF content. Network segmentation and user education programs should be enhanced to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual network connections or file executions that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular software updates and proper memory management practices in preventing heap-based memory corruption issues that can lead to remote code execution. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for PDF processing and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle exploitation attempts targeting document reader applications.